The laws that govern employment in one nation have an impact on other nations, too. This is perhaps most true when it comes to China and US. In this era of globalized trade, the way that a nation creates jobs and governs employment will inevitably affect commerce. Many products that sell in the United States are made in China. Many American workers, particularly professionals, leave the United States to work in China. Though Chinese employment laws aren’t necessarily of concern to American law firms and businesses alike, these laws and regulations affect people, and they affect trade. Chinese laws’ affect on the United States is inescapable.

A recent ruling against the Walker County School District has the Georgia administration system paying attention to their rules and procedures. The lawsuit was filed by a teacher in a Walker County school. The suit targeted a policy around public comment at School Board meetings. The Judge found that the School Board meetings required speech protections under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution.

The Panama Papers: The fallout from this leaked document has been explosive. The Panama Papers scandal resulted from a long and painstaking investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The Papers revealed information regarding offshore companies and how they have often been created as shell companies to shield the real owners from public scrutiny. Not surprisingly, offshore tax havens were hugely featured in The Panama Papers exposure.

Progress has been made in Georgia as people suffering from certain medical conditions are now able to use medical marijuana products to alleviate their symptoms. However, since Georgia is a conservative state—the use of marijuana for medical reasons is currently the only type of marijuana use permitted. In addition, these products are often oil based and contain cannabidiol, but are designed to contain very low amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (this chemical provides the sensation that smokers of cannabis achieve when they smoke the drug).

These days, all eyes are on Ross Harris— or the man who left his young son to die alone in a broiling hot SUV. Though Ross Harris’s son’s death is tragic, The Ross Harris Trial is an example of how horrible cases can highlight important issues.

It was big news in March when Erin Andrews, sports reporter and co-host of Dancing with the Stars, was awarded a whopping $55 million dollars by a Tennessee jury in her lawsuit against Marriott. This came after an incident in 2008 when she was filmed through her hotel room’s peephole that had been reversed by a man later criminally convicted for the act (and for stalking Andrews). A few weeks later – and with a bit less fanfare, it was announced that Andrews and Marriott had settled for an undisclosed amount.

April 12, 2016 was Equal Pay Day. In 2015, Equal Pay Day was on April 14th. In 2013, it was on April 9th. Why? The date moves not with the day of the week or the calendar, but based on what the gender pay gap is for the previous year. In 2015, a woman would have had to continue working until April 12, 2016 to make the same salary a man did in the year 2015.

Georgia, North Carolina, and Mississippi have all made the news recently because of legislation that allows discrimination towards LGBT people. However, so far each state’s legislation has resulted in very different outcomes. North Carolina continues to face significant pressure from businesses, artists, and public figures regarding the HB2 “bathroom” bill. This bill requires transgender people to use the gender that was assigned to them at birth when determining where to use the restroom. HB2 prohibits local governments from passing LGBT anti-discrimination ordinances.

Both employers and potential employees should be aware of the discrimination that can occur as early as the interview and the hiring stage of employment. While employers want to hire candidates who can perform the job and enhance their organization, potential employees want to make a good impression. Though interviews are crucial to the onboarding process—they leave opportunity for discrimination. Many employers may not realize this—and may violate anti-discrimination laws if they screen out a particular, protected class of potential employee.

When times are hard and business goes wrong, an entrepreneur’s worst nightmare may come true: They may be forced into bankruptcy. The benefit of bankruptcy is that it provides people with a fresh financial start. However, this comes at a cost. A bankrupt’s record will always be in the system (and thus could be found by potential employers). Unsurprisingly, the result reduced trust placed in both an individual and a business. That said, bankruptcy should only be used as the ultimate last resort. It should never be used as a way to escape the threat of creditors.

For more than 30 years, the lawyers at Parks, Chesin & Walbert have been committed to representing clients in a wide array of litigation matters, including constitutional disputes, employment discrimination, civil rights, class actions, government contracting, and catastrophic injury cases.